FAQs for Parents & Guardians
Why is my teen being invited to participate?
Because they are 16 to 19 years old and read speculative fiction (e.g., dystopian, fantasy, alternative history). The study wants to hear directly from young readers about how they interpret teen-adult mentoring relationships in these stories.
Does my 16- or 17-year-old need my permission to participate?
- For the survey: we use passive consent. We ask that you are informed and that you do not object to their participation.
For the interview: yes, we require active parental permission. You will receive separate information/consent forms before any interview is scheduled.
What will my teen be asked to do?
- For the survey (online):
answer questions about
characters, teen-adult
relationships, and their reading experience. The survey has a mix of short open questions and simple scales. - Interview (optional): a relaxed one-to-one conversation (online or in-person, whichever is preferred) that explores their interpretations in more depth.
How long does it take?
- Survey: about 15-20 minutes (or 30-35 minutes if they choose to discuss two series instead of one).
- Interview: about one hour (longer only if your teen wants to continue and has time).
Is this like a test or assessment? Will answers be judged or graded?
No. There are no right or wrong answers, no grades, and no evaluation of spelling, grammar, or language use. We care about your teen’s ideas and experience, not writing or speaking quality.
Will the interview be recorded?
Yes, audio only. The recording is used to transcribe the conversation accurately. Names are not used in transcripts (we use pseudonyms). Audio files are stored securely and kept only as long as needed for transcription/verification.
How is my teen’s data kept private and safe?
Survey and interview data are pseudonymized; direct identifiers (like names) are not stored with responses or redacted. If your teen opts to leave an email for interview follow‑up, it is stored separately, encrypted, and never combined with the survey answers or interview audiofiles.
How will the data be used?
For academic research: for Janieke’s PhD dissertation, publications, conference presentations, and public‑facing talks/workshops. Insights may help educators, librarians, and youth organizations understand how YA fiction can support adolescent development and intergenerational relationships.
Who will have access to the data?
Only the researcher (Janieke Koning) and her supervisor (Prof. Dr. Elly McCausland) have access to raw data. Any shared or published material uses pseudonyms and anonymized excerpts.
How long will the data be kept?
Pseudonymized research data may be retained for up to five years after the project for analysis and verification. Contact details (e.g., email for interview follow‑up) are deleted once they are no longer needed.
Can I ask my for my teen’s data to be removed? How?
Yes.
- For the survey: Within 7 days of completing the survey, email readingmentors@ugent.be with the unique 5‑digit ID code shown at the end of the survey. This code lets us locate and delete the response. Without the code we cannot identify which response is theirs.
- For the interview: currently, a detailed protocol has not been set up yet, but you will be able to request your teen’s data to be removed after the interview still. More details will follow and will be given before any interview is planned.
What if my teen writes or says something personal?
We remind participants not to include real names or specific locations in open answers. If something identifying is written or said by accident, it is redacted where possible, before processing and transcription. We focus on ideas and interpretations, not sensitive personal details.
Is this study GDPR-compliant?
Yes. Studies conducted in the EU must comply with GDPR requirements, such as data minimization, clear consent procedures, secure storage, and rights to access or withdraw data. This study follows GDPR and UGent policies.
For more information contact our Data Protection Officer: Hanne Elsen, privacy@ugent.be, +32 9 264 95 17, Sint-Pietersniewstraat 25, 9000 Gent.
This study has been reviewed and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the faculty of Arts and Philosophy of Ghent University. Under no circumstances should you consider the approval by this committee as an inducement to participate in this study.
Who is conducting and supervising the research?
The study is conducted by Janieke Koning (PhD candidate) and supervised by Prof. Dr. Elly McCausland, Ghent University.
How do we contact the researcher?
Email: readingmentors@ugent.be
You can also use the contact form on this website.